Ross
Franklin and Ja’Wuan Woodley probably will need time to digest the manner in which their 2011
seasons ended.

Franklin, a senior running back for Johnstown, saw an otherwise dream season end one game short
in a 59-28 loss to Creston Norwayne in a Division IV state semifinal.

Even with a 328-yard performance, Franklin fell 23 yards shy of the state single-season rushing
record, held by Tony Franklin of Bedford Chanel since 2001. He also came up one touchdown short of
the 59-year-old record held by Hubert Bobo of Chauncey-Dover.

The
Dispatch All-Metro offensive player of the year, Franklin finished with 3,416 yards on 339
carries (a 10.1-yard average) and 51 touchdowns. He made first-team all-Ohio and was a finalist for
the Ohio Mr. Football award.

“All of the personal stuff is great, but I would give it all away in a second to get to play in
the state championship game,” he said.

“It’s still crazy to think about everything that happened this season. Losing that state
semifinal is going to sit with me for a while, but I know in time I’ll be able to put things into
the proper perspective. People in Johnstown are going to remember what we did for a long, long
time, and that’s special.”

Before the season, Franklin spoke of breaking Marcus Hendren’s school record of 2,902 yards and
36 touchdowns.

“If it weren’t for my offensive line and the rest of my teammates, it never would have happened
because I needed those extra four playoff games to reach those goals,” he said.

Coach Mike Carter said he wasn’t surprised that Franklin topped his lofty goals.

“Ross is just an incredibly hard worker,” he said. “He’s a self-made player. I’m not sure I’ve
coached any kids more dedicated than him.”

Woodley, the All-Metro and Division IV Ohio defensive player of the year, also suffered a
painful ending to an otherwise memorable junior season.

His halfback pass on a late two-point conversion trickled off the fingertips of teammate Jacob
Matuska in the back of the end zone as Hartley lost to Kenton 30-28 in a Division IV regional
championship.

At linebacker, Woodley had spent much of the game spying on Kenton’s national record-setting
quarterback, Maty Mauk.

“I honestly think fans that night saw the two best players in Ohio go head-to-head,” Hartley
coach Brad Burchfield said. “The best part is Ja’Wuan is only a junior, and he’s only going to get
better and better.

Woodley made 85 tackles and two sacks, forced four fumbles and recovered two (one for a
touchdown). He also rushed for 1,546 yards, caught nine passes for 144 yards and threw a touchdown
pass. He finished with 20 TDs. Hartley (11-1) went undefeated in the regular season for the first
time in its history.

The coach of the year is Jay Sharrett, who took Pickerington Central from an 0-2 start to the
Division I state championship game.

“A lot of people wrote us off, but these kids bought into the idea that every game was like a
playoff game for us the rest of the way,” he said. “We buckled down, got a new resolve and really
hit our peak when we needed to.”

sblackledge@dispatch.com

First-team offense

Receiver, GARY BROWN (Westerville South) 6-0, 185, jr. The latest in a long line
of stellar Westerville South receivers, Brown made 60 catches for 1,048 yards (17.5-yard average)
with 13 touchdowns. “Gary’s just a phenomenal athlete with a huge upside,” coach Rocky Pentello
said. “He wants the pressure. He wants the ball.”

Receiver, MARCUS DAVIS (Dublin Coffman) 5-10, 175, sr. Despite sitting out his
final two games, Davis made 64 catches for 907 yards (14.2) with eight touchdowns. “Marcus is one
of the best players I’ve ever been around, with a work ethic second to none,” coach Mark Crabtree
said.

Tight end, JAKE BUTT (Pickerington North) 6-6, 225, jr. A force on both sides of
the ball, Butt is one of the top junior prospects in the Midwest. He made 27 receptions for 424
yards and scored seven touchdowns. “In my 20 years of coaching, Jake is the hardest-working
practice player I’ve ever been around, and that carries over,” coach Tom Phillips said.

Lineman, JACOBY BOREN (Pickerington Central) 6-3, 285, sr. An Ohio State recruit,
Boren anchors the offensive and defensive lines for Central. The four-year starter bench-presses
415 pounds. “Jacoby is, without a doubt, one of the best pure two-way players in the state,” coach
Jay Sharrett said. “He’s a devastating force.”

Lineman, DAMON DILLARD (Marion-Franklin) 6-3, 356, jr. A third-year starter,
Dillard anchored a line for a Red Devils spread offense that scored 40 points per game. “Damon is
the rock in our program, a mountain of a person who makes all of our line calls for us,” coach
Brian Haffele said. Dillard also played defense.

Lineman, PAT ELFLEIN (Pickerington North) 6-3, 285, sr. An Ohio State recruit,
Elflein was just as dominant on defense as offense. “He’s absolutely dynamic and a warrior on both
sides of the ball,” Phillips said. “He’s going to graduate here with 12 letters, and that’s unheard
of for an athlete his size.”

Lineman, JABARI HOWARD (Eastmoor Academy) 6-2, 320, sr. A four-year starter with
deceptive quickness, Howard made 23 pancakes at tackle. He also was a dominating force at defensive
tackle, with 15 tackles for minus-yardage.

Lineman, MAX POLLOM (Jonathan Alder) 6-7, 330, sr. A Division I prospect, Pollom
controlled the interior of the line as a guard. He graded out at 92 percent for the season. “Our
running game was really strong the past couple years, and Max was an integral part of our success,”
coach Steve Coate said.

Running back, WARREN BALL (DeSales) 6-2, 215, sr. Cited as the top recruit in the
Midwest, the Ohio State recruit bounced back from two seasons of injuries by rushing for 1,241
yards and 27 touchdowns. “We turned to Warren for all of the tough yards,” coach Ryan Wiggins said.
“He was a force in every game, not to mention a great leader on and off the field.”

Running back, DAXTON CATES (Westerville South) 5-10, 225, sr. Cates had big shoes
to fill replacing two-time All-Metro Offensive Player of the Year Jayshon Jackson, but did so
handsomely. He ran for 1,638 yards (7.0 average) with 22 TDs. “Daxton’s work ethic has gotten him
where he is,” Pentello said. “He sets a great example.”

Running back, ROSS FRANKLIN (Johnstown) 6-0, 200, sr. For the second straight
season, Franklin averaged 10.1 yards per carry. Last year, he gained 2,183 yards and scored 22
touchdowns. This year, he rushed for 3,416 yards — second in Ohio history — and 51 touchdowns (also
second) as the Johnnies reached the state semifinals.

Kicker, JIMMY GAMMILL (New Albany) 6-1, 180, sr. Blessed with a strong leg and
nerves of steel, Gammill made 8 of 10 field–goal attempts and 52 of 53 extra-point attempts. He
made last-second, winning field goals of 47 and 45 yards to beat playoff qualifiers DeSales and Big
Walnut. Seventy-five percent of his kickoffs were touchbacks. “Anytime we got over midfield, we
knew we had a chance to get points,” coach Mark Mueller said.

Return specialist, BRANDON SCHOEN (Olentangy Orange) 5-11, 190, sr. Schoen’s
versatility was unchallenged. In addition to returning two punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns,
he rushed for 1,263 yards (9.2 average), made five interceptions and 58 tackles on defense and
scored 29 touchdowns. “There wasn’t a phase on this football team he didn’t have a profound effect
on,” coach Brian Cross said.

First-team defense

Lineman, EMMANUEL BEAL (Reynoldsburg) 6-0, 200, jr. From his end spot, Beal had 20
sacks and 12 tackles for minus-yardage among 61 tackles overall. He also forced four fumbles and
recovered one. “Emmanuel is relentless and he practices with the same zeal,” coach Buddy White
said. “With another year of maturity and weight-lifting, the sky’s the limit for him.”

Lineman, SAM COLES (Hilliard Davidson) 5-11, 190, sr. A first-team all-Ohioan and
Central District defensive player of the year, Coles played an invaluable role for the Wildcats. He
had 70 tackles, 16 for minus-yardage, and 11 sacks at end for a defense that allowed only 58
points. Rotating between tight end and fullback, he was a punishing blocker at the point of attack
in Davidson’s option offense.

Lineman, CHANEY FULTON (West Jefferson) 6-0, 220, sr. Not only did he amass 86
tackles, 161/2 for minus-yardage, with 41/2 sacks, Fulton was also the Roughriders’ featured
running back, gaining 1,472 rushing and receiving yards, with 18 TDs. “I think we used Chaney at
about six different positions, counting special teams,” coach Shawn Buescher said. “What a
versatile kid.”

Lineman, TERRELL JACKSON (Marion-Franklin) 6-3, 271, sr. Haffele called Jackson
his best player, quite a compliment considering Marion-Franklin’s star-studded lineup. Jackson
finished with 75 tackles and 20 sacks. “He’s a complete stud,” Haffele said. “He plays with an
incredibly high motor. He’s a special player, the kind you might see on Sundays someday.”

Linebacker, GARRETT FOSTER (Pickerington Central) 5-10, 210, sr. Sharrett called
Foster, a four-year starter, “the fastest kid in our whole school” and the sparkplug of a
speed-based defense. He has more than 50 tackles for minus-yardage in his career. “He has one of
the highest motors I’ve ever seen. I don’t know where we’d be without him.”

Linebacker, JOSHUA PERRY (Olentangy) 6-4, 230, sr. Another member of Ohio State’s
recruiting class, Perry made 65 tackles, six for minus-yardage, with six sacks in eight games. He
also rushed for 1,021 yards (7.1 average) and 20 TDs. “A lot of times, I asked myself if I was
asking too much of Josh playing both ways and special teams, but he always came through,” coach Ed
Terwilliger said.

Linebacker, LUKE ROBERTS (Lancaster) 6-2, 235, sr. Another OSU recruit, Roberts
finished with 121 tackles, 17 for minus-yardage, and four sacks from his inside spot. He also
rushed for 605 yards and nine TDs at fullback.

Linebacker, JA’WUAN WOODLEY (Hartley) 5-10, 220, jr. A two-way force at linebacker
and running back, Woodley is projected to be a Division I-caliber recruit by the time he graduates.
“The day after we lost a tough, tough playoff game, Ja’Wuan called me and asked me what he needs to
do in the offseason to get even better,” coach Brad Burchfield said. “Only the special ones do
something like that.”

Back, GODWIN IGWEBUIKE (Pickerington North) 5-11, 185, jr. With five interceptions
and 31 tackles, Igwebuike was a key playmaker for the Panthers. He also rushed for 1,046 yards and
14 TDs. “Godwin has the quickest feet and hips I’ve ever seen,” Phillips said. “When all the
combines and camps roll around, people will begin to realize what a great talent this kid is.”

Back, NANA KYEREMEH (Thomas Worthington) 5-10, 168, sr. A Division I prospect who
has been timed in 4.3 seconds for the 40-yard dash, Kyeremeh totaled six interceptions for 145
return yards and two touchdowns, 73 tackles, four blocked punts (two which he returned for
touchdowns) and two blocked extra-point attempts. Cardinals coach Scott Gordon said Kyeremeh might
be the most talented player he has ever coached

Back, TROY ROBINSON (Mifflin) 5-9, 165, sr. One of the most feared cornerbacks in
central Ohio the past three seasons, Robinson had six interceptions, returning two for touchdowns. “
Troy’s one of those kids I never have to worry about, whether it’s being late to practice, messing
around in class or not giving 100 percent,” coach Gregg Miller said. “He’s a model for how to do
things right.”

Back, OLIVER ROUCH (Grandview) 6-1, 200, sr. A three-time first-team all-Mid-State
League choice, Rouch did everything for the 10-1 Bobcats. He had four interceptions, 110 tackles
and 12 pass breakups and forced four fumbles at safety. At quarterback, he combined for 1,500
rushing and passing yards and 18 TDs. “Oliver was the heart and soul of our whole team,” coach
Jason Peters said. “He made plays time and time again for us.”

Punter, FRANK EPITROPOULOS (Upper Arlington) 6-3, 195, sr. Although he missed most
of three games because of torn tendons in a thumb, Epitropoulos — an Ohio State recruit — helped UA
to the playoffs with his play as a receiver, defensive back and punter. He averaged close to 40
yards per punt. “He already had his ride to Ohio State, but he was bound and determined to help
this team, sore thumb and all,” coach Mike Golden said.